Nut processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A nut processing apparatus includes a pair of side panels with a vacuum duct connected thereto. The nut processing apparatus which may be referred to as a vacuum unit is configured to be mounted directly to other nut processing equipment such as for example a stick remover. The vacuum unit includes a vacuum duct with an upper stationary portion and a lower pivotable portion.

BACKGROUND

Pecans and other types of nuts when harvested require additionalcleaning and processing to remove debris and unsuitable nuts fromharvested nut product prior to the nuts being sold. A number ofdifferent pieces of equipment are used in the processing. The equipmentused generally includes a number of separate pieces that each serve adifferent function. Each piece often takes up a significant amount ofspace, so that large open spaces are required to perform the differentfunctions.

SUMMARY

A modular nut cleaning plant has a nut sizer with an intake end and adischarge end. The nut cleaning plant has a stick remover mounted to thenut sizer. The stick remover is configured to remove sticks and otherdebris in a nut product stream. In one embodiment a vacuum unit ismounted to the stick remover and is configured to pull, or suction loosedebris from the nut product stream that is moving on the stick remover.The modular nut cleaning plant is reconfigurable in that an intake endof the stick remover may be positioned on either a left or a right sideof the nut sizer.

In one embodiment the modular nut cleaning plant includes a plurality ofsupport beams configured to mount the stick remover to the nut sizer.The nut sizer comprises a nut sizer frame and a rotatable nut sizerreel, which may be referred to as a nut sizer cage, mounted in the nutsizer frame. The nut sizer frame may include first and second spacedapart horizontal beams having open ends. In one embodiment the supportbeams that mount the stick remover to the nut sizer extend from thestick remover into the open ends of the spaced apart horizontal beams.

In an additional embodiment a debris conveyor is positioned beneath thenut sizer and is configured to collect debris passing out of the nutsizer as a nut product moves from the intake end thereof toward thedischarge end. The debris conveyor is mounted to the nut sizer framebeneath the rotating nut sizer cage. In one embodiment the nut sizerframe comprises a pair of spaced apart beams for receiving the pair ofsupport beams that will support the stick remover.

In one embodiment the nut sizer cage comprises an intake or rear sizersection and a forward, or discharge sizer section detachably connectedthereto. The intake sizer section has a plurality of sizer rods todefine first spaces therebetween. The discharge sizer section has aplurality of sizer rods with second spaces therebetween. In oneembodiment the second spaces are larger than the first spaces. As aresult, small nuts and small debris will pass through the first spacesand will be collected on the debris conveyor 40. Nuts that pass throughthe intake sizer section into the discharge sizer section will continueto be tumbled and rotated by the rotatable sizer cage. Nuts of thedesired size will then pass through the spaces in the sizer rods in thedischarge sizer sections. Those nuts will be delivered to furtherprocessing equipment such as an elevator or an aspirator by chute orother conveyance.

In one embodiment the stick remover has an intake end for receiving thenut product stream. The support surface at the intake end will supportthe nut product stream and an endless chain will deliver sticks andother debris carried by the endless chain through a discharge end of thestick remover. Such debris will be delivered into the debris conveyor.The endless chain on the stick remover defines openings therein. Nutsand debris that fall through the openings in the endless chain will passinto a delivery conveyor which will deliver the nuts and other debristhat pass through the openings into the nut sizer for further processingand cleaning.

A reel sprocket is fixed to an intake end to the nut sizer cage. A drivemotor is configured to rotate the reel sprocket which will rotate therotatable nut sizer cage in the nut sizer frame. The reel sprocket maybe connected to a circular support ring that is supported by bearingsmounted to a bearing support plate. The bearing support plate may befixed to the nut sizer frame. A second or additional circular supportring may be used to connect first and second separable sizer sections ofthe nut sizer cage. The second rotatable circular support ring will besupported by a bearing mounting plate that is structurally connected tothe nut sizer frame.

In one embodiment a drive sprocket is driven by the drive motor for thereel sprocket. A tensioning sprocket may be mounted to the nut sizerframe. The drive chain engages the drive, reel and tensioning sprockets.The drive sprocket will in turn rotate the reel sprocket and therotatable sizer cage. The tensioning sprocket is mounted and configuredsuch that it may be moved to adjust tension in the chain. In addition,the tensioning sprocket may be loosened sufficiently or adjustsufficiently such that the chain can be loosened and/or removed. In oneembodiment the rotatable sizer cage is not fixed to the nut sizer frameand is supported only by the bearings and connected by the drive chain.As a result, the nut sizer cage may be lifted upwardly from the nutsizer frame simply by loosening and/or removing the drive chain.Scrapers may be mounted to the frame to dislodge nuts and or debris thatbecome lodged in spaces between the sizer rods. In some embodiments thespacers will have to be removed to remove the sizer cage. The spacers donot hold the nut sizer cage in place. In other words, the only externalstructural vertical restraint on the nut sizer cage is the chain. As isunderstood, the weight of the nut sizer cage keeps the nut sizer cagefrom moving vertically, but the only restraint that must be removed tolift the nut sizer cage is the chain.

In one embodiment the nut sizer cage includes the first and second sizersections which may be referred to as intake and discharge sectionsrespectively. The second section is connected to the first section withbolts or other fasteners that extend through the second circular supportring. The bolts may extend through annular support rings on both of theintake and discharge sections. Thus, the bolts or other fasteners mayextend through a rear annular support ring on the discharge section anda forward annular support ring on the intake section. The rotatablesizer cage has a plurality of longitudinally extending sizer rods. Thesizer rods are connected to the annular support rings.

In one embodiment the nut sizer frame includes a plurality of supportlegs. A plurality of substantially horizontal beams is connected to thesupport legs. In one embodiment the frame has openings at the intake endthereof to receive support beams for supporting additional processingequipment. The openings may be defined in the end of an upper pair ofthe substantially horizontal beams. A securing fastener may extendthrough the horizontal beams and engage the support beams to secure thesupport beams in place.

The vacuum unit may comprise a pair of spaced apart side panels whichmay be first and second side panels. The first and second side panelshave outwardly extending flanges that are configured to connect to anadditional apparatus, such as for example the stick remover. In oneembodiment a vacuum duct is mounted to the first and second panels. Thevacuum duct has a stationary upper portion and lower portion that ispivotably connected to the stationary portions. The vacuum unit willsuction or vacuum debris from a nut product stream that passesthereunder. A flexible flap may be attached to the lower pivotableportion and more specifically may be attached to a forward panel on thelower pivotal portions. The flexible flap will engage the stick removerwhen connected thereto and will aid in maintaining the necessary vacuum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the left and rear sides of amodular nut cleaning system.

FIG. 2 a perspective view showing the left and forward sides of themodular nut cleaning system.

FIG. 3 is an additional perspective showing the right side of themodular nut cleaning system.

FIG. 4 is an additional view of the modular nut cleaning system.

FIG. 5 is a view from the rear end of the modular nut cleaning system.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vacuum unit of the modular nutcleaning system.

FIG. 7 is an additional perspective view of the vacuum unit showing theforward side thereof.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the vacuum unit.

FIG. 9 is a section view from lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an angled section view of the vacuum unit.

FIG. 11 is a cross section view in the direction of 11-11 from FIG. 8showing the lower portion of the vacuum unit pivoted.

FIG. 12 is a view of the stick remover of the modular cleaning system ofthe endless chain removed.

FIG. 13 is an additional perspective view of the stick remover with thechain removed.

FIG. 14 is an additional view of the stick remover.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the nut sizer showing the left andforward sides.

FIG. 16 is an additional perspective view of the nut sizer showing therear and left sides.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the nut sizer with the second sectionremoved. Showing the inside of the nut sizer.

FIG. 18 is a cross section showing the inside of the nut sizer.

FIG. 19 is a view showing the right and forward sides of the nut sizer.

FIG. 20 is a view looking at the intake end of the nut sizer.

FIG. 21 is a close-up view showing a scraper on the nut sizer.

FIG. 22 is a blown-up view of a portion of each of the differentsegments of the nut sizer cage.

FIG. 23 shows an accelerator plate.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The current disclosure is directed to a customizable reconfigurablemodular nut cleaning system 10. The modular nut cleaning system may bereferred to as a modular nut cleaning plant 10. The modular nut cleaningplant 10 may be utilized to perform cleaning and sizing processes fordifferent types of nuts, and specifically for pecans. Modular nutcleaning plant 10 comprises different pieces of nut processingapparatus, including in the embodiment shown a nut sizer 15, a stickremover 20 mounted to the nut sizer 15 and a vacuum unit 25, which maybe referred to as a pre-vac mounted directly to the stick remover 20.Modular cleaning system 10 has left side 30 and right side 32 and rearand forward ends 34 and 36 respectively. A delivery conveyor 38 ismounted to the stick remover 20. Nut delivery conveyor 38 may include acleated conveyor belt 39.

A debris conveyor 40 is positioned beneath the nut sizer 15 and isconfigured to receive debris and/or undesirable nuts from stick remover20 and nut sizer 15 as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.Stick remover 20 is removably and reversibly connected to the nut sizer15 and configured such that it can be rotated and connected to the nutsizer 15 to provide a reversible intake or entry location. In otherwords, nuts, as part of a harvested nut product stream, are provided atan intake end of the stick remover 20, and the position of the intakeend can be on either left side 30 or right side 32 of the nut sizer 15.Generally, nuts are provided to the stick remover 20 as part of aharvested nut product stream with an elevator or other known equipment.The nut product stream will include harvested nuts, grass, leaves, hullsand other light debris, and may also include heavier debris such asrocks, dirt clumps, sticks, and other heavy undesirable debris. The nutproduct stream will have debris and some nuts removed as it passes fromthe stick remover into the nut sizer, and more nuts and debris removedas it passes through the nut sizer.

Stick remover 20 will convey the nut product stream through the vacuumunit 25. Vacuum unit 25 will suction, or pull light debris from the nutproduct stream. The nut product stream will be carried by an endlesschain on the stick remover 20, and is supported at the entry end of thestick remover 20 by a flat, low friction support surface.

The endless chain on the stick remover 20 has openings that will allownuts, and a portion of the debris not suctioned by vacuum unit 25 topass therethough into delivery conveyor 38. Other debris, includingsticks and debris larger than the openings in the endless chain will becarried by the chain and passed into a chute or other conveyance andinto debris conveyor 40.

The nut product and remaining debris passed into the delivery conveyorwill be connected by the delivery conveyor 38 into nut sizer 15. Nutsizer 15 has a rotatable nut sizer cage with an intake end and adischarge end. Nuts will be conveyed from the intake end toward thedischarge end. Nuts of an undesirable size, and additional debris willpass through spaces in a front section of the nut sizer cage into thedebris conveyor 40. Debris conveyor 40 may include a cleated conveyorbelt 42. Nuts that don't fall through spaces in the first section of thenut sizer cage will pass into a second section thereof. Nuts of adesired size will pass through spaces in the nut sizer cage to a chuteor other conveyance that will deliver the desired nuts to otherequipment for further processing and cleaning.

The details of vacuum unit 25 are better seen in FIGS. 5-11, in whichvacuum unit 25 is shown disconnected from the modular nut cleaning plant10. Vacuum unit 25 is configured to remove grass, leaves, hulls, andother light debris from the harvested nut product at or near the firststage of the nut cleaning process. The harvested nut product will bedelivered as part of a nut product stream which includes the lightdebris, and other, heavier unwanted debris. Vacuum unit 25 is mounted tostick remover 20 near the receiving end, or intake end of the stickremover 15. Nuts are conveyed along a sizing chain on the stick remover15. The nut product stream first will land on and slide over a flat, lowfriction surface before reaching a sloping surface where much of thegood nut product will fall below the horizontal portion of the sizingchain and will slide down to delivery conveyor 32 which may be forexample a horizontal cleated belt conveyor. The details of stick remover20 will be described later

Vacuum unit 25 includes a vacuum duct 50. When vacuum unit 25 is mountedto stick remover 25, vacuum duct 50 is located generally above the areaimmediately after the desired nut product falls and is channeled to thedelivery conveyor 38 therebelow. The vacuum duct 50, which may be arectangular vacuum duct 50, is hinged so that it may pivot to allow acontinued flow of product when large pieces of the debris are carried onthe sizing chain of stick remover 20.

As depicted in the FIGS. vacuum unit 25 includes sidewalls 52 which maycomprise left and right sidewalls, or side panels, 54 and 56,respectively. Flanges 58 that extend outwardly from sidewalls 52 may beutilized to mount vacuum unit 25 to stick remover 15. Vacuum unit 25 maybe connected with bolts or other known means to stick remover 20. Alateral support 60 extends between and is connected to the sidewalls 54and 56. The nut product stream will pass over lateral support 60 to bedelivered to the vacuum duct 50. The nut product stream will besubjected to a vacuum as it passes under vacuum duct 50. Vacuum duct 50,which may be referred to as vent duct 50 comprises rear panel 62,forward panel 68 and side panels 70 to connect rear and forward panels62 and 68 respectively.

Vacuum duct 50 is a hinged or pivotable vent duct with verticallyadjustable lower door or louver 66. Hinged vacuum duct 50 comprises alower hinged, or pivotable duct portion 72, and stationary upper ductportion 74. Forward panel 68 has an upper end 76 and a lower or bottomend 78. Upper end 76 is connected to a hinge 80. A rubber flap 82 isconnected to lower end 78 of forward panel 68. The rubber flap 82 willhelp to maintain suction through vacuum duct 50, but will allow solidmaterial, for example nuts and debris to pass therethrough. Hinge 80 isconnected to fixed, or stationary upper portion 74 of vacuum duct 50.

Rear panel 62 has an upper end 84 which has hinge 86 attached thereto.Hinge 86 is connected to stationary upper portion 74 of vacuum duct 50.Hinge 86 may be connected to both of side walls 54 and 56 and may holdupper duct portion 74 in place, while allowing the pivoting motion oflower duct portion 72.

A sloped panel 90 is connected to the lateral support 60 and directs nutproduct on to the stick remover 20. Nut spreaders 92 and 94 areconnected to side panels 54 and 56 and may aid in directed the nutproduct stream toward the center of vacuum duct 50, and will also aid inspreading the nut product out and breaking up large clumps of debrisand/or nuts. Nut spreaders 92 and 94 may be generally L-shaped pieces.Nut spreaders 92 and 94 may be made of a flexible material, for examplea flexible rubber. Nut spreaders 92 and 94 may be connected to sidepanels 52 with brackets 93. A spring 95, and in some embodiments a pairof springs 95 are attached to sidewalls 52 and to pivotable portion 72to bias the portion 72 towards the non pivoted position. A fan, or othervacuum generating device may be mounted to a top of a vacuum duct 50 tocreate the desired vacuum. When positioned on stick remover 20 lowerduct portion 72 of vacuum duct 50 will pivot if large pieces of debris,or clumped nuts are delivered onto stick remover 20. The pivoting motionwill allow the debris to pass thereunder and be carried along by asizing chain on stick remover 20 which is described below. The pivotablevacuum duct 50 will prevent sticks and other debris from clogging thevacuum unit 20 so that the nut product stream will continue moving alongthe sizing chain on the stick remover.

The features of stick remover 20 are better seen in FIG. 12-14. Theendless chain of stick remover 20 is not shown in all views so thatother components may be more clearly seen. Stick remover 20 has sidepanels 100 with a plurality of support bars 102 extending therebetween.Support bars 102 provide a surface for endless sizing chain 104 to moveupon. Support bars 102 extend through and are supported by side panels100. Side panels 100 may comprise first and second side panels 106 and108. Side panels 60 may have flanges 110 thereon for connecting tovacuum unit 25. As described earlier vacuum unit 25 and stick remover 20may be connected to each other with bolts or other fasteners known inthe art. A flat plate 112 which may be a low friction flat support plate112 has an upper support surface 114 positioned at or near intake end116 of stick remover 20. Intake end 116 may generally be referred to andconsidered as the intake of the system 10. Support plate 112 has aforward edge 118. The forward edge 118 is depicted in phantom lines inFIGS. 8 and 11 to show the location of edge 118 relative to vacuum duct50. Edge 118 is positioned so that it is generally aligned with rearpanel 62 of vacuum duct 50.

Endless sizing chain 104 moves over bars 102 and support plate 112.Sizing chain extends around a rubber coated drum 120 at the forward end122 of the stick remover 20. Sizing chain 104 extends around a shaft 124at the rear, or intake end 116 of stick remover 20. Sizing chain 104 haslinks 126 defining openings 128 to allow nuts to pass therethrough.Sizing chain 104 will move sticks and other debris larger than theopenings 128 to debris chute 130 which will deliver such to the debrisconveyor 40.

A shaft 124 will rotate about bearings 132 mounted to one of panels 100in a manner known in the art. A motor 134 will rotate rubber coated drum120 which will cause linear movement of sizing chain 104. Motor 134 ismounted to a motor mount 136. Harvested nut product along with sticksand other debris will be delivered at intake end 116. Sizing chain 104will move the harvested nut product along with sticks and other debristoward vacuum unit 20. Light debris will be suctioned from the sizingchain 104. A first product slide 140 will convey nuts and debris thatfall through openings 128 after passing over flat support plat 112 tonut delivery conveyor 38. A second product slide 142 is positionedforward of first product slide 140. Second product slide 142 will directnuts and other material falling thereon through openings 128 intodelivery conveyor 38. Thus all nut product and other material that fallsthrough openings 128 will be collected on delivery conveyor 38, whichwill convey the nut product and other material to nut sizer 15.

U-shaped channels 150, which may comprise a U-shaped channel 152 nearthe forward end 122 of the stick remover 20 and a U-shaped channel 154near the intake end 116, extend through both side panels 100. U-shapedchannels 154 are downward facing U-shaped channels. A pair of lengths ofsquare channel 159 which may comprise square channel 160 and squarechannel 162 extend through stick remover 20, and more specificallyextend through U-shaped channels 152 and 154, respectively. Squarechannels 160 and 162 have a length sufficient to extend through stickremover 20 into a portion of the frame of nut sizer 15. Square channels160 and 162 may also be referred to as support beams 160 and 162.Support beams 160 and 162, as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow will mount stick remover 20 directly to nut sizer 15. No legs orother structural support is needed for stick remover 20. In theembodiment shown motor mount 136 is mounted to one of support members156 that extend through U-shaped channel 152 at the forward end 122 ofstick remover 20. Motor 134 is mounted thereto to rotate rubber coateddrum 120. Motor 134 will be connected to a shaft as known in the art torotate drum 120.

The modular cleaning system 10 is customizable and reconfigurable, inthat as shown in the FIGS. stick remover 20 is mounted so the intake end116 for the harvested nuts is on the right side 32 of modular cleaningsystem 10. If space or configuration requirements of a particularbuilding require, motor mount 136 and motor 134 can be removed. Stickremover 20 can be pulled from support members 156, rotated 180°, andslid back on to support members 156. The intake end 116 will then be onleft side 30. The motor 134 can be reconnected and stick remover 20operated as described herein.

Deliver conveyor 38, which may include a cleated conveyor belt 39, isconnected by means known in the art to the underside of stick remover20. In operation delivery conveyor 38 will receive nuts and othermaterial through opening 128 in chain 126 and will deliver them directlyinto the intake opening for the nut sizer 15. Modular cleaning system 10does away with the need for legs for stick remover 20 and greatlyreduces the height required for use thereof, thus allowing the modularcleaning system 10 to be utilized in much smaller spaces than iscurrently possible. Typical prior art stick removers are positioned onlegs and have a height sufficient for nuts to slide downwardly on achute and into the open end of a nut sizer. The configuration describedherein eliminates the need for the legs and for the additional chute todirect nuts to a sizer.

The details of nut sizer 15 are better seen in FIGS. 15-22. Nut sizer 15has a rear or intake end 170 and a discharge, or forward end 172. Nutsizer 15 has left side 174, right side 176, top 180 and bottom 182. Nutsizer 15 has an intake opening 184 at the intake end 170 thereof. Nutsare delivered directly in the intake opening 184 from delivery conveyor38. Nut sizer 15 has a rotatable nut sizing reel 186, which may bereferred to as a rotatable nut sizing cage 186, mounted in a nut sizerframe 188. Sizing reel 186, is level, or horizontal from the intake end170 to the discharge end 172 thereof. Sizing reel 186 thus has asubstantially horizontal longitudinal axis 190. Delivery conveyor 38will extend into intake opening 184 and will deliver nuts into sizingreel 186 therethrough.

Sizing reel 186 is rotated by a drive system 192 at the intake endthereof such that opening 184 is uncovered. Prior art sizing reelsgenerally are driven at the discharge end thereof which makes removal ofthe sizing reel for any purpose a much more difficult job than with thecurrent configuration described herein. The method of removal of thesizing reel 186 is described below. As described herein rotatable sizerreel 186 does not have any tilt or slant and is horizontal from theintake end 170 to discharge end 172 of nut sizer 25. Nuts delivered torotatable sizer reel 186 will pass from the intake end 170 toward thedischarge end 172 without any tilt or slant to the rotatable sizer cage186. Frame 188 defines a pair of support openings 194, which may includefirst and second support openings 196 and 198. Support beams 158 and 160are received in openings 196 and 198 and extend therein a sufficientdistance to securely mount a piece of nut processing equipment, forexample stick remover 20, to nut sizer 15.

Nut sizer frame 188 comprises vertical support legs 200, which mayinclude left vertical support legs 202 and right vertical support legs204. Nut sizer frame 188 further includes left and right upperhorizontal beams 206 and 208. Upper horizontal beams 206 and 208 maycomprise square channel beams with open ends 196 and 198 at the intakeend 170 of nut sizer 25. Nut sizer frame 188 may include additionalhorizontal beams 207 and 209 below the upper horizontal beams 206 and208 to provide a strong frame 188. Support beams 158 and 160 will extenda sufficient distance into horizontal beams 206 and 208 to mount stickremover 20 thereto. A threaded securing fastener 210 may be threadedthrough horizontal beams 206 and 208 and engage beams 158 and 160 tohelp secure support beams 158 and 160 in place. No other physicalsupport is necessary to mount stick remover 20 to nut sizer 15. As aresult, and as explained previously connecting stick remover 20 to nutsizer 15 in this manner provides a modular cleaning system 10 that isconfigurable to fit a variety of different spaces and sizes in which nutprocessing may occur. Nut sizer 15 may comprise side panels 213 and 215.

Rotatable sizer reel 186 is rotated by drive system 192. Drive system192 includes a drive motor 212 with a motor, or drive sprocket 214rotated by motor 212. A drive chain 216 is engages a follower, ortensioning sprocket 218 and is wrapped around a reel sprocket 220. Motor212 may be connected to a support leg 202 with a bracket 222. Followersprocket may rotatably connect to bracket 222 and may be movable inslots 224 therein to provide a tension adjustment for chain 216, andalso to allow for easy removal of chain 216 and removal of nut sizerreel 186 from nut sizing frame 180.

Reel sprocket 220 may be mounted to a circular support plate, which maybe referred to as a circular support ring 226, which is supported onroller bearings 228 and 230. Circular support plate 226 may be referredto as first circular support plate 226. Roller bearings 228 and 230 areconnected in a manner known in the art to a bearing mounting plate 232.Bearing mounting plate 232 is fixed by welding or other means to nutsizer frame 188, and in the embodiment shown to the vertical supportlegs 202 and 204 at the intake end of the nut sizer 15.

A cross beam 234 may be connected to legs 202 and 204 at the intake end170 of nut sizer 15. Cross beam 234 may be mounted at or near the upperend of the legs 202 and 204 at intake end 170. A support pad 236 whichmay comprise a plurality of support pads 236 may be held in place bycross beam 220 to apply pressure to the reel sprocket 220. Support pads236 will aid in holding reel sprocket 220 steady and will prevent or atleast limit any horizontal movement of the rotating sizer cage 186.Support pads 236 may be UHMW or other material and will provide asmooth, low friction surface. Bearings may be connected to cross beam234 in place of support pads 236. The bearings will provide support toreel sprocket 220 and will provide rollers for reel sprocket 220 to moveon.

Rotatable sizer cage 186 includes a plurality of support rings 240 whichmay comprise annular support rings. Annular support rings 240 include afirst end annular support ring 242 at the intake end 170 of nut sizer 15and a second end annular support ring 244 at the discharge end thereof.Circular support plate 226 is connected to first annular support ring242. The reel sprocket 220 is connected to first end annular supportring 242 by circular support plate 226. Rotation of reel sprocket 220 bymotor 212 will therefore rotate rotatable sizer cage 186. Annularsupport rings 240 also include a plurality of intermediate annularsupport rings 246. A plurality of longitudinal circular rods 248 areconnected by welding or otherwise to annular support rings 240. Nutsizer 15 comprises a plurality of segments 250 and in the currentdisclosure includes a first or rear segment 252 and a second or forwardsegment 254. Segments 252 and 254 may be referred to as intake anddischarge segments respectively. For ease of reference, longitudinalcircular rods 248 in first segment 252 will be referred to as rods 256and those in second segment 254 will be referred to as rods 258. Rods256 and 258 are generally the same size, but as is evident from thefigures have different spacings therebetween.

Rods 256 in first segment 252 have a space 260 therebetween and rods 258in segment section 254 have a space 262 therebetween. Space 262 islarger than space 260, and is generally configured to allow nuts of thedesired size to pass therethough into a chute 264 for delivery intofurther processing or cleaning equipment. Smaller nuts and debris willpass through spaces 260 and into chutes, or slides 266 prior to reachingsecond section 254. Material passing through spaces 260 will fall intodebris conveyor 40, and may be funneled thereto by chutes 266.

Rotating sizer cage 186 includes an additional bearing support plate 270positioned between the first and second segments 252 and 254. Supportplate 270 is connected to the forward most vertical legs 202 and 204.Bearings 272 are attached to support plate 270 and a rotatable supportring 274 is rotatably supported on bearings 272. Rotatable ring 272 maybe referred to as a second circular support plate. Rotating ring 274 isbolted to intermediate support rings 246 and specifically is bolted to asupport ring 276 at the forward end of the first segment 252 and supportring 278 at the rear end of the second segment 254. As a result secondsegment 254 can easily be replaced if it is desired to have a segmentwith a different spacing between the rods to process different sizednuts. Second segment 254 can simply be unbolted from rotating ring 274,and replaced with another segment configured to process different sizednuts than second segment 254. If desired, the nut sizer 15 can beoperated without a second segment, and all nuts that pass through to therear end of first segment 252 can be delivered to other equipment forfurther processing.

At least one and preferably a plurality of rows of accelerator plates282 are disposed in an interior of rotating sizer cage 186. Acceleratorplates 282 may comprise generally L-shaped angles with a base 284 and aleg 286 extending outwardly therefrom. Accelerator plates will belongitudinally spaced along the length of rotating sizer cage 186.Accelerator plates 282 are connected to longitudinal straps 288 that arewelded or otherwise connected to support rings 240. Accelerator plates282 may be spaced as desired, to generate the desired speed of movementof nuts through nut sizer reel 186. For example, accelerator plates 282may be positioned and spaced such that there is one accelerator plate282 between two support rings 176. Sizer cage 186 may included a numberof rows, for example two rows of accelerator plates 282 spaced radially180 degrees apart. Accelerator plates may also be positioned such thatrows of accelerator plates 282 in first segment 252 is offset from rowsof accelerator plates 282 in second segment 254 of the rotatable sizercage 186.

Accelerator plates 282 may be formed of steel, plastic or other suitablematerial. As depicted in the drawings, accelerator plates 282 haverounded corners and edges to limit any cracking of nuts. Acceleratorplates 282 will urge nuts from the intake end 170 toward the dischargeend 172 of nut sizer 15. The speed of movement of nuts can be adjustedsimply by adjusting the angle of the accelerator plates 282, and bypositioning the accelerator plates in the rotatable sizer cage toachieve a desired speed of movement of nuts from the intake end 170toward the discharge end 172 of nut sizer 15.

A scraper assembly 290 which comprises a plurality of scrapers 292 isutilized to dislodge nuts or other material that may become lodgedbetween longitudinal rods 248. Scrapers 292 may be connected to an upperhorizontal beam 205 with a connecting plate 294 and a quick release pin296. Scrapers 292 may have slots to receive connecting plates 294 andquick release pins 296 inserted through openings in the connectingplates 294. By connecting scrapers 292 in this manner, the scrapers 292are allowed to float and pivot as lodged debris or nuts 292 are inaddition, all that is required to remove the scrapers is removing quickrelease pin 278 from connecting plate 294.

The manner of construction and configuration of nut sizer 15 is suchthat it can be easily reconfigured to accommodate different sized nuts.The only vertical restraint on cage 186 is chain 216. There are no otherstructural connections of sizing reel 186 to nut sizer frame 188. Inorder to remove rotating cage 186 in its entirety, all that it isrequired is to remove or loosen chain 216. Chain 216 can be removedsimply by following sprocket 218 to relieve tension in the chain 216.Once chain 216 is removed, nut size cage 186 can be lifted out andreplaced. It may be necessary to remove scrapers 292 as well, which canbe achieved simply by removing pins 296. In this way an entirelydifferent rotatable cage with different spaces for the longitudinal rodsmay be inserted therein. Additionally, second segment 250 may bedisconnected from first segment 252 as described above by simplyremoving the bolts or other fasteners that connect the first and secondsegments 252 and 254. The second segment 254 can then be simply liftedout of nut sizer frame 188.

All nuts that pass into second segment 254 and through spaces 262between longitudinal rods 258 are delivered to chute 264 or otherdelivery equipment and will be further delivered to an elevator or anaspirator for further processing. Product or other debris that passesall the way through rotating cage 186 and is too large to drop throughspaces 262 between longitudinal rods 258 in second segment 254 will bedelivered to discharge collector 300 and will be directed therefrom onto debris conveyor 40 Debris conveyor 40 may be mounted to frame 188 ofnut sizer 15. Debris conveyor 40 will include a conveyor frame connectedto nut sizer frame 188 and a conveyor belt. Debris conveyor 40 willextend beyond the discharge end 172 of nut sizer 15 so that materialpassing through discharge collector 300 may be collected thereon anddelivered to a disposal bin or other collection site. Debris conveyor 40will likewise extend a sufficient length such that it is positionedbeneath stick remover 20. Sticks and other debris that are carried bythe sizing chain 104 on stick remover 20 will pass around the drum 120and will be gathered into chute 130 which will deliver the sticks andother debris onto the debris conveyor 40. Thus, any unwanted product,debris or other material that is cleaned from the desired product willbe collected on debris conveyor 40 and will be delivered to a desiredlocation. This charge end 172 may also include an end plate 302. Endplate 302 may be connected to upper beams 205 and 208 and intermediatehorizontal beams 307 and 309, and along with pads 236 will prevent, orat least limit horizontal movement of nut sizer cage 186.

In operation a nut product stream will be delivered to the intake end116 of the stick remover 20. Sizing chain 104 will be moved linearly byrotating drum 120 such that the desired nuts along with grass, leaves,hulls and other debris will move along with sizing chain 104. The nutswill pass along the top surface 114 of plate 112 and light debris willbe suctioned from the nut product stream by vacuum unit 25. The amountof vacuum can be changed by altering the speed at which a fan rotates,and by raising/lowering the louver 66 which will change the spacingbetween the louver 66 and the support plate 112. Nuts and debris smallenough to pass through openings 128 in endless chain 104 will pass downproduct slide 140 or slide 142 onto a conveyor 30 that will deliver thenuts and other material collected thereon into nut sizer 15 andspecifically into rotating sizer cage 186 at the intake end 170 thereof.Vacuum unit 25 has a pivotable vacuum duct 50 that will pivot such thatlarge objects may pass therethrough without clogging or blocking andpreventing nuts from being delivered onto conveyor 40. Sticks and otherunwanted debris that are not sucked by vacuum unit 25 and do not passthrough openings 128 will be carried by chain 104 and dropped on debrischute 130 and delivered to debris conveyor 40.

Nuts and other material received in intake end 170 will be tumbled androtated by rotating sizer case 186 to eliminate dirt, sand, small rocksand other debris from the desired nut product. The spacing 262 betweenlongitudinal rods 258 in second segment 254 is greater than the space260 in first segment 252. Nuts and small debris smaller than the desirednut size will pass through spaces 260 in first segment 252. Nuts anddebris in the nut product stream that do not pass through spaces 260will be moved in to second segment 254 by accelerator plates 262. Nutsin the nut product stream that pass into second segment 254 willcontinue to be rotated and tumbled. Nuts of the desired size (i.e., nutssmall enough to pass through spaces 262 between rods 258) may bedirected with a chute 264, or other conveyance, to additional processingequipment such as for example an elevator or aspirator. Nuts too largeto pass through spaces 262, along with any debris carried therewith willbe directed by accelerator plates 282 through discharge end 172 and intoa discharge collector 300 which will direct all material deliveredthereto into debris conveyor 40.

The current disclosure therefore describes a modular nut cleaning systemor plant 10 that will fit in different sizes and configurations ofspaces and that can be reconfigured to fit the space limitations ofdifferent facilities. The modular nut cleaning system 10 includes astick remover 20 that is mounted to a nut sizer 15. A vacuum unit 25 ismounted to stick remover 20. Nut product along with other debrisgathered during the harvest is provided to stick remover 20. The vacuumunit 25 will suction away light debris including sticks and other lightmaterials, and nut product along with some other heavier debris willfall onto a product delivery conveyor 38 positioned beneath stickremover 20. That nut product will be delivered directly into an openingin the receiving or entry end of nut sizer 15. Nut sizer 15 comprises arotating sizer cage 186 with spaced longitudinal rods 248. The rotationof the rotating cage 186 will tumble nut product to eliminate dirt,sand, small rocks and other debris from the desired nut product. The nutsizer 15 will likewise sort nuts by size and/or condition. The rotatingsizer cage 186 is generally a horizontally mounted rotating cylindricalcage.

Longitudinal rods 248 are equally spaced around the perimeter insections or segments of the rotating sizer cage 186. For example, thefirst segment 252 may have rods 256 that are spaced a first distance 260while a second segment 254 has rods 258 that are spaced a second greaterdistance 262. Small nuts and other debris will fall through the spaces260 in the first segment 256. Accelerator plates 282 mounted in therotatable sizer cage 186 will move nuts from the entry end 170 thereoftoward discharge end 172. Nuts that do not fall through spaces 258 willpass into second section 254. Because the space 262 between longitudinalrods 256 in the second segment 254 are greater than spaces 260, nuts ofthe desired size will fall therethrough while any larger product orother debris will ultimately be delivered to the discharge end to adischarge collector. The discharge collector 300 will deliver nuts andunwanted debris onto debris conveyor 40. The debris conveyor 40 willlikewise collect debris and trash from the stick remover 20. Thus,debris conveyor 40 will extend from stick remover 20 all the way to thedischarge end of the rotating sizer cage 186 so that any debris that iscleaned from the nut product stream will be received on the debrisconveyor 40.

The modular nut cleaning system is reconfigurable in that stick remover20 may be mounted to the nut sizer 15 such that intake end 10 of themodular cleaning system is positioned at either the left or right sideof the nut sizer 15. In this way the modular cleaning system may beconfigured to adapt to different sizes and spaces in which processing isdesired. The modular cleaning system can likewise be easily configuredto process different nut sizes. Rotatable sizer cage 188 is held inplace in the horizontal direction at the intake end 170 by support pads236 and at discharge end 172 by end plate 302. There are no fasteners orother structural connectors used to prevent the rotating sizer cage frommoving upwardly. In other words, no fasteners or other structuralconnectors are used. The rotatable sizing cage is held in placevertically only by the chain 216. Thus, to remove rotatable sizer wheel186, one need simply loosen, or remove chain 216, and lift rotatablesizer wheel 186 upwardly. In some embodiments scrapers 292 will have tobe removed to provide clearance to remove the nut sizer cage 186, but asexplained scrapers 292 do not connect the nut sizer reel 186 to nutsizer frame 188. Scrapers 192 are not structural connectors and do notrestrain the nut sizer cage. In other words, the only externalstructural vertical restraint on the nut sizer cage 186 is the chain216. As is understood, the weight of the nut sizer cage 186 keeps thenut sizer cage 186 from moving vertically, but the only restraint thatmust be removed to lift the nut sizer cage 186 is the chain 186. A sizercage with different rod spacing can be lowered and supported by thefirst and second circular support plates as described herein.

Thus, it is seen that the apparatus and methods of the present inventionreadily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned as well as thoseinherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been illustrated and described for purposes of the presentdisclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction ofparts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art, which changesare encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An nut processing apparatus comprising: a firstside panel; a second side panel spaced from the first side panel, thefirst and second side panels having outwardly extending flangesconfigured to connect to an additional nut processing apparatus; and avacuum duct mounted to the first and second panels, the vacuum ducthaving a stationary portion and a lower portion pivotably connected tothe starting position.
 2. The nut processing equipment of claim 1, theoutwardly extending flanges configured to connect to a stick remover. 3.The nut processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lower portioncomprises a vertically adjustable panel.
 4. The nut processing apparatusof claim 2, the lower portion comprising a rear panel and a forwardpanel, the forward panel having a flexible flap attached hereto.
 5. Thenut processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flexible flap engagesthe stick remover when connected thereto.
 6. A nut processing apparatuscomprising: a stick remover with an intake end; and a vacuum unitmounted to the stick remover forward of the intake end and configured tovacuum debris from a nut product stream moving on the stick remover. 7.The nut processing apparatus of claim 6, the vacuum unit comprising: anupper, stationary portion; and a lower portion pivotably connected tothe upper portion.
 8. The nut processing equipment of claim 6, the stickremover comprising: a support plate at an intake end of the stickremover; and an endless chain configured to move the nut product streamfrom the intake end past the vacuum unit.
 9. The nut processingequipment of claim 8 further comprising: a delivery conveyor positionedto catch and convey nuts and debris passing through openings in thechain to an additional piece of nut processing equipment.
 10. The nutprocessing equipment of claim 8 further comprising: a debris conveyorpositioned to catch and convey sticks and debris that do not passthrough openings in the chain to a debris conveyor.
 11. A nut processingapparatus comprising: a stick remover with an intake end; a vacuum unitconnected to the stick remover; and a delivery conveyor positioned toconvey nuts from a nut product stream to additional nut processingapparatus.
 12. The nut processing apparatus of claim 11 furthercomprising a debris conveyor positioned to collect debris from the stickremover.
 13. The nut processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein thevacuum unit is positioned to vacuum debris from a nut product on thestick remover.
 14. The nut processing apparatus of claim 11, the vacuumunit comprising a pivotable vacuum duct.